Abstract

Purpose: To describe socioeconomic profile, awareness ,reasons for delay in
accessing timely cataract surgery of (LIG).
Methods: cross-sectional observational study LIG pts.
central rural India between March 2019 to February 2020. Data
collected through a questionnaire.
Results: 731 patients . females (69.36%).
mean age 62.66 ± 10.37 years(26.40%) were aware of LIG. Lower socioeconomic profile, older age, female gender and illiteracy strongly associated with awareness about LIG (p < .001). Patients waiting for the
winter season (58.27%) to operated was major reason for delayed . Other reasons – need not felt due to good vision in other eye (14.36%), financial issues (11.63%), long
travelling distance (7.11%), no caretaker (6.89%), medical illness (1.78%) and fear of surgery (0.55%).
Conclusion: Delayed of LIG is multifactorial.
Most pts preferred waiting for winter season , which throws light
on the mindset and ignorance of the patients in this part of central rural India.